Part 2 (2/2)
”Mel, we should get the ball rolling. Sarah told me how you've searched for a job for months and haven't come up with anything. I remember how smart and resourceful you were. You had a great mind for technology and bookkeeping. I'm sure that a job at Caper could...”
”Lucas, not now, okay?” Melody sipped wine.
”I want you to talk to my dad as soon as you can.” He sighed. ”Sorry if I pushed.”
”Oh, you gotta push Mel or else she won't do a d.a.m.n thing.” Sarah walled her eyes.
Melody set her gla.s.s on the table. ”I know something I want to do right about now. It involves my foot and your a.s.s.”
”Ladies, it's okay.” Lucas grunted. ”Didn't expect the job to offend you, Mel.”
”Lucas, I'm not offended.” She took his hand.
”So, I've been catching the latest news reports.” Keith sipped. ”On that rapist.”
”Oh G.o.d,” Sarah moaned. ”They talk about it enough on television that I'm sick to death of it.”
”It needs to be talked about in order to catch him, Sarah.” Melody sighed. ”It's amazing how someone can terrorize an entire city, yet the police don't have any clues.”
Lucas chewed. ”I bet they would work a little harder if the victims weren't black women. You know how the police are.”
”Tell me about it.” Sarah smirked. ”If they were white women they'd have the f.u.c.kin' National Guard down here looking for the guy.”
”All the women have been black?” Keith raised an eyebrow.
”Yeah.” Melody thought of Aileen. Being black, beautiful and alone most of the time made Aileen Andrews a perfect candidate for the s.a.d.i.s.tic violator.
”So, is it a black guy or...” Keith gaped.
”No, they say it's a white guy with some strange obsession for black girls.” Sarah walled her eyes. ”And you'd think the police could come up with something, right?”
”You think it's racially motivated?” Lucas wiped his mouth. ”I mean, like, the man is really racist or something and this is how he takes out his frustration on black women?”
”I don't care what his reasons are. He needs to be locked up, that's for sure. Before he hurts someone else.” Sarah sipped.
”Uh, let's not talk about rapists, okay?” Melody sighed. ”I'm jumpy enough as it is.”
”They already nicknamed him.” Keith chewed. ”They call him the 'Albany Predator'.”
”Keith, I said I didn't want to talk about this anymore.” Melody sighed.
He nodded. ”Point taken. So Melody, are you interested in working at Caper? I find that a great idea. Don't you, babe?” Keith leaned against Sarah.
Sarah scratched her back with her fork. ”Oooh,” she moaned.
”Are you okay?” Lucas grimaced. She nodded unconvincingly. Lucas continued, ”Keith, Sarah and I figured working at Caper would be good for Melody, you know?”
Keith smirked. ”Oh really?” He stared at Melody while he caressed Sarah's lap.
”As in, work with us?” He raised an eyebrow.
”Yes.” Lucas looked at her. ”But I see me mentioning it only spoils the mood, so I won't mention it again.”
”I just need to think about it, that's all, Lucas.” Melody smiled. She watched a waiter sit an attractive couple at the table next to theirs.
”G.o.dd.a.m.n it!” Sarah slammed the fork on the table. People momentarily looked up from their meals. Two waiters shrugged at each other.
”Sis, what's the problem, huh?” Melody grinned.
”s.h.i.+t, my bra's practically eating me alive. I'll be right back, gentlemen.” She gestured to the ladies' room. ”Mel, could you come with me, please?” Melody followed, grinning.
Lucas shook his head. ”Sarah's something else, isn't she?”
”Yeah.” Keith stared at Melody. ”So, tell me how well you and Mel know each other again, Luke.” Keith smirked.
Sarah high-tailed it to the mirror. She nearly ripped her dress off to get to her bra snaps. Melody strolled in grinning.
”Well, it's not such a perfect night for you after all is it, Miss Sarah?”
”Mel, this is no time to be funny.” Sarah exhaled. ”This d.a.m.n bra is killing me, I swear!”
”Hold on, let me help.” Melody noticed red marks underneath Sarah's straps.
”Whoa.” She rubbed the marks. Sarah flinched. ”G.o.d, your bra's so tight I'm surprised you could breathe.”
”I just bought this d.a.m.n thing for ninety dollars.”
”Ninety dollars for one bra?” Melody shook her head. ”Just like you, sis, living above your means and everyone else's.”
Sarah smirked. ”Won't have to for long with Keith in the picture. He's fantastic, isn't he, Melody? And he's so nice to you. Wonder how he'd feel to know you been d.o.g.g.i.ng him behind his back. Maybe I should tell him.”
Melody shrugged. ”Tell him. Maybe it'll be a surefire chance of getting rid of the son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h. You sure you got the right size bra?”
”Yes, I got the right size!” Sarah looked in the mirror.
”Oh, is someone touchy? Is someone perhaps gaining weight?” Melody grinned.
”This has nothing to do with weight, believe me.” Sarah rinsed crumbs from her mouth. ”Okay, let's go.”
Melody blocked her. ”Wait, I need to talk to you.”
”Later, Keith's waiting.”
<script>